When the week ends, it’s time to relax, enjoy the company of friends and soak in as much weekend fun as possible, but even nightlife can become routine or mundane. That same restaurant with the same group of friends eating the same entree. While Albuquerque has a lot to offer, sometimes it’s hard to find that new evening outing. Have no fear and let me swing this idea by you.

Rhythm Dance Company has created Saturday nights full of jazz, fancy footwork and an eclectic mix of locals. From 8:15 to 11:15 p.m., this quaint dance studio opens its doors to the public for Saturday Swing. And let me tell you, it’s an absolute blast. For a few bucks, you can dance the night away and be transported back to the roaring ’20s (perfectly apropos of the The Great Gatsby’s upcoming release). Even if you have two left feet, you can still join in on the fun. Rhythm offers basic swing classes before every social dance at 7:30 p.m. for a few extra bucks. As soon as you’ve learned your level one moves, you’d be surprised how quickly you transition from memorized steps to fluid partner dancing. Once you’ve tuckered yourself out from all those spins and dips, you’ll notice the pleasant diversity of the students. You have your regulars—who move with amazing grace—teenagers looking for a different kind of fun, beginners (like me) just trying to master the step-ball-change and every other type of person you can imagine. The dancing is such fun, but the crowd that attends “Saturday Swing” is what makes it truly memorable. You’ll dance with and meet people of all sorts as you become part of swingin’ little community for one night. Try something new. You just might discover your new favorite weekend outing.

Sometimes, people take the liberty of exciting every old-school gamer by muralizing their garage entrance. I am completely and totally in support of this and, needless to say, driving by this Pac-Man mural every day keeps me pretty entertained. Keep an eye out for street art. Finding little gems like this make driving to work seem far less mundane, and may even keep that third-cup-of-coffee craving at bay. ... for a while longer.

“Look toward the future.” This saying has been engraved in my mind since ... well, since the beginning. I’ve been told by my parents, teachers, advisors, bosses, nearly everyone to strive for what’s ahead, to keep on pushing forward. I realize this is a common theme in society. I’m sure most people have had at least a few anxiety attacks in the middle of the night concerning that overbearing word: “future”.

I’ll admit I’m slightly terrified by its presence. However, my perspective is shifting. I graduate from high school next month and suddenly, the world seems to be spinning multitudes faster than it used to. What happened to barely keeping my eyes open in first-period calculus? Or lugging around a backpack that felt like it was full of anvils? Now, I’m being thrown a diploma and told to go off into the real world, leaving this part of my life behind. Granted, graduating from high school is an accomplishment I’m proud of and while I had a great time overall, I cannot wait to throw my cap in the air while ironically performing a “High School Musical” signature jump. In the grand spectrum, these past four years account for a minuscule portion of my life. That isn’t to say they weren’t important, but there is so much more to experience and learn outside of the state-required curriculum.

But then here it comes again: the future spurning an existential crisis on my exhausted brain. Between worrying about what college will be like to what sort of chips to buy for my graduation party, my head is filled to the brim with anticipating the undeniable future. Perhaps the most frightening part is that in approximately four months, I will be moving over 2000 miles away to Boston.

That single fact awoke an urge to stop focusing primarily on the future and to really enjoy what I have right now. While moving and running toward reality is exciting, I also know I have to make an effort to really soak up all that’s around me right now. Boston will present me with some amazing adventures, but what about the adventures that are yet to be had here?

So, Alibi reader, welcome to “Blair rediscovers ABQ” (I’m sure I’ll come up with a catchier title later). Given the opportunity to blog for the Alibi, I hope to not only find new things about this beloved desert city that I never knew existed, but also let you know about them. This place has so much to offer and before I leave, I want to be able to say, “I know Albuquerque,” and share my newfound knowledge. Before Boston, diplomas, packing all my stuff into not-so-neat little boxes; before my life turns upside down, I want to explore my home to the absolute fullest during the last summer I have the privilege to call it that.